Appliance plug clip or terminal



y 2, 1933- G. J. MEUER 1,906,481

APPLIANCE PLUG CLIP 0R TERMINAL Filed m 9, 1931 m nu 20 a 1 m go ly of th'e'fbindingscrew.

binding screw;

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE GEORGE J. MEUER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CUTLER-HAMMER, INC OEMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPLIANGE PLUG CLIP on TERMINAL Application filed July 9,1931.

This invention relates to improvements in' appliance plug clips or terminals.

An object of the invention is to generally improve the details of construction, assembly and operation of the parts of devices of the aforementioned character. 1

-'Another object is to provide a novel form of interlocking connectlon between the biasing spring a d the sheet metal parts of the 9 clip, whereb said'parts are removably held 1n partially assembled relation independent- Another object is to provide novel mean i for preventing undue separation of the sheet '15 metal parts of the clip as by the prying action of an interposed jack blade.

'."-Another object is to provide novel means for :retaining the clipparts incompletely assembled. rel-ation independently of. the

Another object is to provide'a clip of the aforementioned character which is adapted for cooperation with substantially all (different types efjacli blades now used on electrial appliances.

, -..Q ther objects and advantages of the inv'entionwill hereinafter appear.

' "The accompanyingdrawing illustrates certain embodiment: of the-invention which will now be described, it being understood {that the invention. is susceptible of embodimentother forms without departing fromthe scope of; the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figur l is an enlarged plan view,;sliowing the interiorrecesses in one of the du licate sections of the longitudinally divided insulating casing which may be employed, a terminal clip constructed in accordance with my. invention beingpositioned in one of the recesses.

Fig. 2 is aperspective view, in separated relation, of the clip parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aside eleyational view of the clip shown in'Figs. 1 and 2. C

1 'Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a, clip similar tration.

16 and 1 6 in 17, toaccommodate'the flared en Serial No. 549,681.

to that shown in Figs. 1- to 3, but having a modified form of connection between the terminal parts of the clip.-

F'g. 5 is a sectional view, on theline 5- of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the insulating sections of the-casing in assembled relation to eachother, but with the usual fastening bolts omitted for clarity of illus- Fig. 7 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a slightly modified form of sheet metal clip parts and a modified form the,portions 16?, 17 of. vvhichare respec: tively' adapted to accommodate the jack receiving portions of the clips and the portions 16", 17 of which are respectively adapted to accommodate the wiring terminal portions of the clips,- sa id portions 16, 16? and 17, 17 being connected'by reduced or neck portions .16, 17 respectively. rThe flat bottomwalls', of ortions .16", 17 of the re"- cesses are pfroyi ed with depressions, (oneof which is shown at 16) to accommodate the shanks of binding screws.

The bottom walls of portions 16, 17" of I the recesses are 'of double-inclined or concave form, as. indicated by the shading at ig. 1. The forward ends of the portions 1 'f, 137 are inclined forwardly and downwardly as indicated at '16 and 17 toward the relatively deeper portions 16,

clips. The forward end walls of the sections of the 15, 15 of the casing are provided with complementary grooves 18, 19 to accommodate ack blades of various cross sectional forms and dimensions.

Sections 15, 15 are each likewise provided with a cord recess or groove 20 which'is provided with meanderlng branches 20 20 leading to the respective binding screws of the clips. Grooves 20 may be enlarged as indicated at 20", 20 to accommodate the usual form of coiled wire cord-guard or the like. The exterior of the casing sections may be of any desired conformation, but as illustrated the same embodies the design illustrated in my Design Patent No. 84,200, dated May 19, 1931.

The connector clip assemblies to be housed Within the casing sections are of-identical form, and as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 each assembly may comprise a pair of punched and stamped sheet metal members 21 and 22. Member 21 is provided with a flared end 23 which merges into the concave recess or groove 24 extending longitudinally thereof. Extending laterally of the groove 24 are a pair of flanges 25, 26, which flanges are respectively provided with notches 25,

26 adjacent to the forward ends thereof.

The neck portion 27 of member 21 is angled upwardly therefrom and is integrally connected with the wiring terminal portion 28. Portion 28 is provided with a substantially centrally located tapped opening 28 which is surrounded by the downwardly extendingflange 30, as best shown in Fig. 3. Portion 28 is provided on opposite sides thereof with parallel u standing flanges 28 28",-the flange 28 eing notched or cut away, as indicated at 28 for a purpose to be described. 7 Member 22 as shown is likewise provided with a flared end 29 and a groove the outer convex wall of which is shown at 30. Flanges 31 and 32 extend laterally from said groove, and said flanges are notched as indicated at 31 and Y32. Neck portion 33 angled downwardly as shown and the same' is integrally connected with the terminal portion 34. Portion '34 is relatively narrower than the portion 28 and'is loosely insertable between the flanges 28, 28 aforementioned,-said portion 34 being provided with an opening 35 of relatively larger diameter than the opening 28 whereby clearance for the shank of a binding screw 36 is provided.

The biasing spring of. the clip is of substantially 'U-shape as shown and comprises a straight connecting portion 37 which is adapted to be loosely positioned between the neck portions 27, 33 of members 21 and 22. Ofi'set upwar lly from portion 37 and then bent downwardly to extend in a plane crossing the plane of the latter is an arm portion 37 which. overlies the upper surface (Fig. 2) of flange 25,the downwardly angled free end portion 37 of said arm be ng v 31 of member 22 beneath the spring arm 37 with consequent engagement ol' the walls of notches 31, 3" with the spring ends 37", 37, respectively. By pressing or forcing the terminal portion 34 laterally against the bias of the spring the left-hand side (Fig. 2) of said portion may be caused to clear the flange 28 on terminal portion 28. lortion 34 as shown is providedv at the lci'thand side thereof with an integral lug or projection 34 so. that by depressing the former said lug may be caused to register with the. aforementioned noteli 28. The bias of the aforedescribed spring forces portion 34 toward the left with resultant interlocking engagement of projection 34 with the walls of said notch. I 0

The sub-assembly thus effected may be handled and transported without danger of accidental separation of the parts, and at any time as desired the binding screw 36 may be threaded into the tapped openlng 28 through the clearance opening 35 provided inportion 34. When screw 36 1S. driven home the portion 34 is pressed flat against the portion 28 whereby the degree of torsion or pressure of the spring arms is slightly augmented in the finally assembled condition of the parts.

The terminal portions 28, 34 of each clip fit within the complementary recesses 16 and the complementary recesses'17 of the casing sections, said terminal portions having a slight degreeof lost motion both longitudinally and laterally of the casing sections' whereby connection of the clips with and detachment thereof from jack blades 4 of different shapes, dimensions and spacing is facilitated, it being noted that the complementary recesses 16*, 17 are likew1se115 shaped and dimensioned to permit the requisite degree of lost motion of the. clips within the casing.

The casing sections are provided atspaced points with openings 38 and 39 the outer ends of which are each preferably provided with countersinks or recesses 38, 39 of hexagonal or other polygonal contour,--certain of said recesses being adapted to accommodate nuts of corresponding shape and the J2 other recesses being adapted to accommo: date'the heads of securing bolts or screws of suitable shape and size.

-ner walls of the respective alined pairs of notches 25, 31 and 26*, 32 to resistlateral and 5 is substantiall like thatshown in Figs. 1 to 3. In this orm, however, the up-' per member 22 is provided with a terminal 20. portion 34 of slightly greater width than the portion 34 aforedescribed, and the projection 34 of Figs. 1 to 3 has been omitted.

Portion 34 fits rather snugly between the upstanding lugs 28 and 28 formed intee grally'with the terminal portion 28", the opposite ends of said lugs being beveled as shown, and said beveled ends being bent or spun inwardly as shown to overlie the opposite edges-of portion 34 whereby the clip parts are-"pern1anently secured in assembled relation to each other. A tool (not shown) having a rotatable head with a conical or hemispherical cavity may be employed to effect the v bending or spinning operation aforementioned.

Also as will be noted the tapped opening 29 in portion 28 is provided with an upstanding surrounding flange 30, whereby a smooth lower surface is provided upon the portion 28. This arrangement insures proper seating of the terminal portions 28 of the clips within the recesses 16 and 17 of the insulating casing sections.

The device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is suband corresponding parts have been given like characters of reference. In this form, however, the free end portions 37, 37 of the spring have been bent in opposite di- :ections with respect to each other and at substantially right angles to their respective arm portions 37 and 37 Moreover, the notchesin flanges 25, 26, 31 and 32 are of decreased length, as indicated at 26", 31 .lIld 32. In this form separation of the clip parts 21 and 22 is yieldably resisted by the resiliencyof the neck portions. 27 and33 and b the resiliencyof-the spring arms 37*. and 3 but there is no definite engagement Jf the free end,portions 37 and 37 with the end walls of the notches as in the arrangements aforetlescribed. The walls of recesses 16 and 17 of the casing sections will, however, prevent undue separation of 65 the clip parts and said free end portions 37 The connector clipillustr ated in Figs. 4.

stantially like that shown in Figs'l to 3, s

and 37 of the spring will be retained within the aforedescribed notches in all relative positions of the clip parts. The clip illustrated in Fig. 9 is substantially like that shown in Figs. 4 and '5, ex- 7 cept that the lugs 28 and 28 are not ofi: set inwardly over the terminal portion 34. On the other hand, the bias of spring 37 is utilized to eflect movement of said terminal portion laterally against the lug 28 where- 7 by the plip parts are removably retained in c partially assembled relation independently ofthe binding screw 36 aforementioned.

The binding screw 36 may be staked or its threads otherwise upset in any well known manner to prevent accidentalremoval th reof from the clipvafter complete assembly of the parts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. An appliance plug terminal comp-ris. ing upper and lower terminal plates of substantially equal length adapted to receive between them a cooperating jack, said 1ow-. er plate being provided with a tapped opening for cooperation with the shank ofya binding screw and said upper plate being provided'with a relatively larger opening to provide clearance for said shank, said lower plate also having upturned flanges at one end thereof, said upper plate having a relatively narrower end portion insertable between said flanges, and a substantially U- sh'apedjspring having an intermediate. portion thereof loosely positioned between said plates and having arm portions thereof located on opposite sides of said plates respectively, said spring acting to bias sa d plates toward each other and to b as sald relatively narrower end laterally against one of said flanges whereby saidparts are held in partially assembled relation and against accidental separation from each other prior to attachment of the binding screw.

2. Anappliance plug terminal compris- .110 ing a pair of opposed terminal plates of substantially equal length, said plates hav ng complementary grooves for cooperation with a jack blade, the lower plate havlng an end. portion provided with a flat lower surface, 11 said end. rtion having an upwardly flanged tapped opening for cooperation with the shank of a binding screw, the upper plate having adiat end portion-provided wlth' a relatively larger opening to accommodate said flange, said firstmentionedend port on also having a pairof-upstandlng lugs-between whichv said second mentioned end portion is adapted to be received, and a substantia'lly U-shaped springhaving an intermediate portion thereof loosely positioned 'b etween said plates, the arm portions of said spring being stressed during assembly of the. parts to provide for positioning of said arm portions ,on opposite sides of said plates resaid flange, said first mentioned end portion spectively, the stressed condition of said spring resulting in biasing of said second mentioned end portion into interlockng engagement with one of said lugs, whereby also having a pair of upstanding lugs between which said second mentioned end portion is adapted to be received, and a substantially U-shaped spring having an intermelnediate portion thereof loosely positioned between said plates, the arm portions of said spring being stressed during assembly of the parts to provide for posltioning of said arm portions on opposite sides of said plates respectively, the stressed condition of said spring resulting in biasing of said second mentioned end portion into interlocking engagement with one of said lugs, said second mentioned end portion having a projection and said last mentioned lug having a notch to receive said projection whereby all of said parts are positively retained in assembled relation prior to attachment of the binding screw. i

4. As an article of manufacture, a twopart metal socket for appliance plugs, said metal parts having complementary grooves for the reception of a jack blade there between, longitudinally extending flanges at opposite sidesof said grooves, said flanges having notches formed therein adjacent to the forward ends thereof respectively, and a substantially U-shape'd spring, the interme diateportion of said spring being located between said metal parts at the rear ends of said grooves respectively, the arms of said spring being arranged to engage a diagonal.- ly opposed pair of said flanges in the assembled relation of the parts, said intermediate portion of the spring being stressed by the assembly *of the metal parts whereby the latter are biased-toward each other.

5. As an article of manufacture, a twopart metal socket for appliance plugs, said metal parts having complementary grooves adapted for reception of a jack blade therebetween, longitudinally extending flanges at opposite sides of said grooves, said flanges having notches formed therein adjacent to the forward ends thereof respectively, a substantially U-shaped spring, the intermediate portion of said spring being located between said metal parts at the rear ends of said grooves respectively, the arms of said spring being arran ed to engage a diagonally opposed pair 0% said flanges in the assembled relation of the parts, said intermediate portion of the spring being stressed by the assembly of the metal parts, whereby the latter are biased toward each other, one

of said metal parts having an end portion provided with upstanding parallel flanges, the other metal part having an end portion fitting loosely between said flanges, said spring acting to bias said last mentioned end portion laterally into engagement with one of said last mentioned flanges to thereby retain said spring and said metal parts in partially assembled relation, and a wiring terminal screw the shank of which has threaded engagement with one of said end portions and the head of which is adapted for clamping engagement with the other of said end portions, whereby a good mechanical and electrical connection between said metal parts is provided.

6. As an article of manufacture, a twopart'metal socket for appliance plugs, said metal parts having complementary grooves adapted for reception of a jack blade therebetween, longitudinally extending flanges at opposite sides of said grooves, said flanges having notches formed therein adjacent to the forward ends thereof respectively, a sub stantially U-shaped spring, the intermediate portion of said spring being located between said metal parts at the rear ends of said grooves respectively, the arms of said spring being arranged to engage a diagonally opposed pair of said flanges in the assembled relation of the parts, said intermediate por; tion of the spring being stressed by the assembly of the metal parts whereby the latter are biased toward each other, oneof said metal parts having an end portion provided with upstanding-parallel flanges, the other metal part having an end portion fitting loosely between said flanges, said spring acting to bias said last mentioned'eud portion into engagement with one of sald last mentioned flanges to thereby retain sald sprlng and said metal parts in partially assembled relation, and a binding screw penetrating one of the aforementioned end portions of said metal parts and having threaded engagement with the other of the same to retain said spring and said metal parts in completely assembled relation.

7. As an article of manufacture, a terminal socket for appliance plugs, said socket comprising" a pair of punched and stamped sheet metal members having complementary grooves to accommodate a jack blade there-. between, said members each havmg laterally extending flanges on opposite sides of the respective grooves, said flanges being provided with alined notches adjacent to the -forward ends of said members, a substantially U-shaped spring having its intermediengaging diagonally opposed flanges. on the respective sheet metal members whereby the latter are biased into socket forming relation, the free ends of the spring arms being bent to extend in opposite directions through the respective pairs of alined notches, said spring ends acting to prevent lateraldis placement of said members with respect to each other in the normal plane of contact thereof while permitting separation thereof in directions at right angles to said plane during engagement thereof with a jack blade.

8.As an article of manufacture, a terminal socket for'appliance plugs, said socket comprising a pair of punched and stamped sheet metal members having complementary grooves to accommodate aljack blade therebetween, said members each having laterally extending flanges on opposite sides of the respective grooves, said flanges being provided with alined notches adjacent to the forward'ends of said members, a substantially U-shaped spring having its intermediate portion loosely positioned between said members, and the'arms of said spring being offset with respect to said intermediate portion and extending in planes crossingthe plane of said intermediate portion said arms engaging diagonally opposed" anges on the respective sheet metal members whereby the latter are biased into socket forming v minal socket for appliance relation, the free ends of the spring arms being bent to extend in opposite directions through the respective pairs of alined notches, said spring ends cooperating with certain of the walls of said alined notches to retain said members in superimposed alinement with each other in all relative positions of the latter, said spring ends valso cooperating with other walls of said notches to limit the degree of separation of said members, for the purpose set forth, Y

9. As' an article of manufacture, a terplugs, said socket comprising a pair of punc ed and stamped sheet metal members having complementary grooves to accommodate a jack blade therebetween, said members each havin laterally extending flanges on opposite si e's'of the respective grooves, said flanges being provided with alined notches adjacent to the forward ends of said members, a 'substantial- 1y U-shaped spring having its intermediate portion loosely. positioned between vsaid members, and the arms of said spring being ofiset with respecttoflsaid' intermedlate portion and extending-in planeslcrossingth'e,

plane of said intermediate portion, said arms engaging diagonally opposed fianges'on the respective sheet metal members whereby the latter are biased into socket forming relation, the free ends of the spring arms being bent to extend in opposite directions through the respectivepairs of alined notches, sald spring ends cooperating with certain of the walls of said alined notches to retain said members in superimposed alinement with each other in all relative positions of the latter, said spring ends also cooperating with other walls of said notches to yieldably limit the degree of separation of said members, for the purpose set forth.

10. As an article of manufacture, a biasing spring for two-part metal socket-terminals of -appliance plugs and the like, said spring being of substantially U-shape, the intermediate port-ion of said spring being straight and the arms of said spring being offset in opposite directions with respect to said intermediate portion, said arms being bent in ,opposite directions to extend in planes crossing the plane of said intermediate portion, and the free ends of said arms being additionally bent in directions corresponding to the first mentioned bends respectively to provide for interlocking engagement of said spring with cooperating parts of a socket terminal.

11. As an article of manufacture, a biasing spring for two-part metal socket terminals of appliance plugs and the like, "said spring being of substantially U-shape, the intermediate portion of said spring being straight spring with cooperating parts of a socket terminal, said spring arms being distorted from the initial planes thereof into approx inately parallel planes by the assembling op eration, whereby the socket parts are biased toward each other.

12. An ap liance plug terminal comprising upper a d lower terminal lates of substantially equal length forme accommodate a jack blade between them,

"said lower plate having an end provided with a tapped opening for cooperation with the shank of a binding screw and said upper plate having an end providedwith a relatively larger opening to provlde clearance for said shank, said lower plate also having upstanding-lugs on opposlte sides of the aforementloned end thereof, the end of said upper plate being relatively narrower for reception thereof between\sa1d lugs, and a to yieldably substantially U-shaped spring havin 'an intermediate portion thereof located between said plates, the arm portions oi said spring being normally biased against opposite sides of said plates respectively, said parts coacting to releasably retain each other in assembled relation, and said lugs bein upset inwardly to olampingly engage said relatively narrower end portion, whereby all of said I 10 parts are permanently secured in assembled relation to each other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER. 

